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The shocking ecological variations and dangers of phasing out fossil fuels are concerning for human progress. It has raised the apprehension of workers about shifting from old energy capitals to ecologically sustainable biofuels. The current work involves the preparation of biodiesel (BD) using non-edible neem oil via transesterification reaction (TR). The transesterification process was carried out using nickel-doped zinc oxide (Ni–ZnO) nanocatalysts produced using the sonochemical technique. XRD, EDX, and SEM were employed for characterizing synthesized nanoparticles. TR was performed for the evaluation of the catalytic performance of Ni–ZnO. Various parameters affecting reaction rates, such as catalyst amount, temperature, and the methyl alcohol to neem oil ratio, were tested to determine where the maximum BD production could be achieved. It was found that the best BD (90.1%) was produced at 60 °C with a 1:10 oil-to-methyl alcohol ratio using 0.9 g of the catalytic system. First-order kinetic modeling is best suited for TR. Vital thermodynamic factors such as energy of activation (E*), enthalpy (H*), and entropy (S*) were also found. TR was endothermic and entropy-driven. A Ni–ZnO nanocatalyst could be an appropriate catalytic system for the heterogeneous catalysis of transesterification, a key reaction for BD making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-situ synthesis of a ternary nanocomposite based on Ag-Fe3O4/rGO by utilizing Azadirachta indica leaf extract as a reducing agent has been carried out. The morphological, EDX, and structural analyses confirm the reduction of GO into rGO by forming crystalline Fe3O4 and Ag nanoparticles in the rGO matrix, with a crystalline size of 25.77 nm. Further, the FTIR, UV-Vis, and BET analyses confirmed the effective interaction between Fe3O4 and Ag nanoparticles in the rGO matrix, tunable bandgap, and a higher specific surface area. Various electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been performed in a 2 M KOH electrolyte to investigate its electrochemical performance. The synthesized ternary nanocomposite exhibits a specific capacitance of 493 Fg−1 at a current density of 1 Ag−1, with notable capacitive retention of 91.5% even after 10,000 cycles. This nontoxic technique provides a substitute pathway for the formation of graphene-based ternary nanocomposites with exceptional structural, morphological, optical, surface, and electrochemical properties. The ternary nanocomposite synthesized through this procedure displays an outstanding specific capacitance, cyclic stability, and corrosion resistance and hence the possibility of using nanocomposite as a promising electrode material can be explored for energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials based on highly reactive α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) powder were developed and evaluated. Furthermore, the impact of different polymeric additives, such as citrus pectin or polyacrylamide (PAAM) modified with sago starch, neem flower, or rambutan peel, on the physiochemical and biological properties of the developed materials was assessed. The addition of modified PAAM shortened the setting process of bone cements and decreased their compressive strength. On the other hand, the addition of citrus pectin significantly enhanced the mechanical strength of the material from 4.46 to 7.15 MPa. The improved mechanical properties of the bone cement containing citrus pectin were attributed to the better homogenization of cementitious pastes and pectin cross-linking by Ca2+ ions. In vitro tests performed on L929 cells showed that 10% extracts from α-TCP cements modified with pectin are more cytocompatible than control cements without any additives. Cements containing PAAM with plant-derived modifiers show some degree of cytotoxicity for the highly concentrated 10% extracts, but for diluted extracts, cytotoxicity was reduced, as shown by a resazurin reduction test and live/dead staining. All the developed bone substitutes exhibited in vitro bioactivity, making them promising candidates for further biological studies. This research underscores the advantageous properties of the obtained biomaterials and paves the way for subsequent more advanced in vitro and in vivo investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antimicrobial potential of Azadirachta indica seed oil against seed-borne pathogens of Tectona grandis at different concentrations (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%) was investigated. T. grandis seeds were obtained from the seed bank of FRIN Ibadan and taken to the Plant Pathology Laboratory of Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria Ibadan, for the isolation of fungal pathogens. The seeds were disinfected by dipping in sodium hypochlorite and placed on Potato dextrose agar (PDA) to isolate pathogenic fungi. Botanical oil extract was prepared from Azadirachta indica seed. The seed-borne fungi isolated were Fusarium oxysporuum, Curvularia lunata, Rhizopus nigricans, Aspergillus niger, and Trichoderma viride. Results of the antifungal assay showed that neem seed oil extract at various concentrations inhibited the mycelial growth of the test organisms. However, the inhibitory effects of the oil extract increased with higher concentrations. The percentage inhibition for each organism at different concentrations varies, the highest percentage inhibition for Trichoderma viride was 100% at 6% concentration, Rhizopus nigrican was 100% at 8% concentration and Cuvularia lunata was 95.23% at 10% concentration respectively. This experiment, therefore, concludes that essential oil from neem seed contains secondary metabolites having the potential to serve as bio-fungicides in the management of Trichoderma viride, Rhizopus nigricans, and cuvularia lunata, seed-borne pathogens of Tectona grandis seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The popular vegetable sweet gourd (Cucurbita moschata) is cultivated throughout Bangladesh. However, its yield is low owing to the severe infestation by fruit fly Bactrocera cucurbitae. This study investigated the toxicity of chemical insecticides and neem oil on fruit flies infesting sweet gourd. Methods: The repellency of adult fruit flies and larvae and the body weight and mortality of the larvae of the fruit fly were evaluated using three chemical insecticides-Karate 2.5 EC (cyhalothrin), Ripcord 10 EC (cypermethrin) and Shobicron 425 EC (profenofos Q+cypermethrin) and neem oil (azadirachtin). Result: The repellency rate of the fruit fly larvae varied from 20.0±0.0 to 86.7±6.7% and that of the adult fly from 13.3±6.7 to 73.3±6.7%; Shobicron 425 EC, at 2000 ppm, exhibited the best results in both the cases. The treatments negatively affected the weight of larvae compared to the control, where Shobicron 425 EC caused the lowest weight (7.8±0.2 mg). The insecticides at 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment demonstrated toxic effects on the larvae, where the LC50 values ranged from 742.5 (550.4-1060.5) to 2476.3 (2150.6-2954.7) ppm at 72 h after treatment. On the whole, Shobicron 425 EC demonstrated better efficacy than the other insecticides against fruit flies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During perinatal period, the immune system of calves is developing, making them vulnerable to infectious diseases that affect their growth or increasing mortality. Phytobiotics have various physiological effects on animals that could improve their performance and health. In this study, the effect of a feed herbal mixture made from Azadirachta indica and Phyllanthus niruri were evaluated in dairy calves. Methods: Forty Holstein calves were assigned into four groups (doses of 0, 2, 3 and 4 g d-1) and productive and health parameters were recorded. Results were analyzed according to a completely randomized design in which linear and quadratic effects of daily feed additive dose were tested. Result: Increasing the dose of herbal mixture linearly reduced final body weight, body weight gain and daily calve starter intake, although it improved feed conversion. Blood tests showed that hematocrit and hemoglobin increased quadratically. The number of segmented neutrophils increased linearly. Finally, the number of pneumonia cases decreased quadratically. These results suggest that supplementation with herbal additives could improve feed efficiency and improve the health status of calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vermicomposting or the conversion of organic wastes into fertile manure by earthworms has long been used in agriculture to increase production of crops. Chemical composition of vermicompost determines the quality and its use in increasing crop yield. It is important to carry out compositional analysis of the vermicompost samples if different substrates are used for their preparation. Methods: In this study, we prepared vermicompost using earthworm Eisenia fetida (old name Eisenia foetida) and different organic wastes, namely wheat straw, bagasse, grass, neem leaves etc. The nutrient content (C, H, N, S, P, K and Humic Acid) was determined for each sample and the effect on plant growth was also observed. Result: It was observed that despite the source of vermicompost, nutrient content was always higher in vermicompost than control organic waste. It was also seen that among the different sources, neem leaves and wheat straw gave rise to the most nutritious compost. The effect on plants was also seen to be much better with these vermicompost samples compared to control without added vermicompost. It was observed that the C/N ratio of the organic wastes significantly decreased during vermicompost, which indicates the increase in nitrogen concentration easily available to plants. Not only were we able to obtain better growth of plants, we were also able to transform some agricultural wastes into useful products, which otherwise would have been dumped into a landfill or burnt, both of which would have been a waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, direct absorption solar collector (DASC) system has emerged a new class of solar collectors with much improved solar thermal conversion potential over conventional surface-based absorption solar collectors. Further, introducing noble metallic particles like Ag, Au, Al, TiN, or Cu (at nano ranges) in the working fluids enhanced the optical properties of the working fluid and hence the overall thermal performance of such DASC systems. However, these novel thermal systems are prone to high emissive and radiative losses at high-temperature ranges. Additionally, the nanoparticles used in the working fluid are expensive, toxic after use, complex to synthesize, and mostly non-biodegradable. In the present study, a medium-flux asymmetric compound parabolic concentrator (ACPC) based concentrating DASC system has been tested over clear sky days in the months of September and October, 2022 at the composite climate of Jalandhar (latitude 31.25 deg N, longitude 75.44 deg E), India. A hybrid heat transfer fluid is prepared using Azadirachta Indica leaves' extract and blended with gold plasmonic nanoparticles (Au nanoparticles of mean sizes ~ 40 nm, mass fraction ~ 4 ppm) to improve the overall thermal performance of the concentrating DASC system. Stored energy fraction of hybrid heat transfer fluid at a depth of 2 cm reached about 74.9%, which is about 67% higher than base fluid water. The outdoor experiments showed that hybrid heat transfer fluid had about 10.4 °C higher temperature gains in concentrating DASC system, and the photo-thermal efficiency was enhanced up to 40% as compared to base fluid water. The study demonstrates the advantage of an eco-friendly, low cost, and highly stable hybrid heat transfer fluid as a potential candidate for a medium-flux DASC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Colletotrichum nymphaeae and Botrytis cinerea are the most epidemic fungal diseases. • The antifungal activity of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) seed extracts. • The encapsulation of alcoholic neem extract with plant biopolymers. • The formulation is designed to determine the minimum concentration threshold and reduce the amount of extract consumed. • Non-chemical compounds with plant origin are one of the best alternatives to chemical fungicides. Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum nymphaeae and gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea are the most epidemic fungal diseases causing significantly losses in strawberry plantings. The objective of the study is to determine the antifungal activity of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) seed extracts and preparing new formulated antifungal agent. Plant extracts including alcoholic, aqueous and oil were extracted from neem seeds and used in concentrations of 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 and 10,000 µl/l to control the vegetative mycelial growth of pathogens. The results showed that alcoholic extract had highest antifungal effect and used for the formulation. The concentration of 10,000 microliters of alcoholic extract showed 91.6 % inhibition of gray mold disease, while it inhibited 80.66 % in anthracnose disease and a significant difference was observed between them. For encapsulation of alcoholic neem extract with plant biopolymers with new changes, the separation method of water-miscible solvent through precipitation with salt was used. The results showed that the best effect of the formulation was observed at a dose of four per thousand. Inhibition at this concentration as the best option in terms of controlling gray mold and anthracnose disease was 86.3 % and 79.38 %, respectively, and they were placed in the same statistical group (d). This formulation is designed to determine the minimum concentration threshold and reduce the consumption of alcoholic extract. Based on the results, the use of formulated alcoholic extract of neem seed as an alternative to chemical fungicides can help control anthracnose and gray mold in strawberries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrimp farming is a significant contributor to the GDP of several growing Asian countries. However, the emergence of Enterocytozoon hepatopanaei (EHP) infection has had a negative impact on the Indian shrimp market, leading to increased mortality and growth retardation among shrimp populations. In order to address this issue, a study was conducted to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of neem aqueous extract (NAE) in treating EHP infection in shrimp. This study employed various approaches, including toxicity testing in zebrafish larvae to determine safe and suitable doses of NAE, as well as long-term exposure trials on adult shrimp. The results of the study indicated that NAE exposure improved the antioxidant defence system by boosting SOD, CAT and NO levels and immunological response of infected shrimp, effectively reducing oxidative stress and enhancing the activity of prophenoloxidase (PPO). Furthermore, histological evaluations demonstrated a decrease in EHP spore development in the shrimp hepatopancreas, while staining analyses revealed the presence of spores in shrimp faeces. Furthermore, the potential bioactive compounds in the extract were observed using GC-MS analysis. These findings highlight the potential of NAE as a natural and effective treatment option for EHP infection in shrimp, which holds significant implications for the aquaculture sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research article has investigated the synthesis and characterization of novel iron nanoparticles (INPs) from neem and betel leaves extract combination using response surface methodology–central composite design and coated with chitosan–curcumin (CCINPs) as a biocompatible and contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The coating of INPs with chitosan and curcumin (CCINPs) was carried out using a simple, easy, chemical‐free ultrasonication method and characteristics were confirmed by UV–visible (Vis) spectrophotometer (UV–Vis), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The biocompatibility of the particles was ensured by conducting hemolytic and cell viability assays. The nanoparticle was found to be nonhemolytic (<5%) up to 150 μg/mL for both INPs and CCINPs. The cell viability was stable (peripheral blood mononuclear cells‐PBMCs) till 48 h at 150 μg/mL of INPs and CCINPs. Both the test results produced were found to be biocompatible and additionally, an in vitro MRI study of INPs and CCINPs demonstrated the efficiency of the nanoparticle as a negative contrast agent with enhanced contrast nature in CCINPs. Thus, overall results indicate that the green synthesized chemical‐free novel CCINPs could be a potential candidate for a wide range of applications such as MRI, drug delivery, and in magnetic fluid hyperthermia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

total of 140 fully engorged adult female ticks were included for the present study. Out of this, 20 ticks were used for performing larval packet test (LPT) and remaining 120 ticks were used in adult immersion test (AIT). Polyherbal aqueous formulation consisting of paste of 10 gm each of Garlic pearls (Allium sativum), Tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum), Tulsi leaves (Ocimum tenuiflorum), Lantana camara leaves (Shrub verbena), Sweet flag rhizome (Acorus calamus), and 20 gm each of Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) and Turmeric powder (Curcuma longa) was used as acaricidal agent in the present study. The paste was dissolved in one liter of water and strained. In AIT, polyherbal formulation exhibited notable inhibition of oviposition and adult tick mortality. Furthermore, In LPT, it demonstrated increased effectiveness on R. microplus larvae from the Mhow region, resulting in a higher mean percent mortality. These findings highlight the promising potential of the polyherbal formulation as a potent acaricidal agent in tick control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burden of human schistosomiasis, a known but neglected tropical disease in Sub-Saharan Africa, has been worrisome in recent years. It is becoming increasingly difficult to tackle schistosomiasis with praziquantel, a drug known to be effective against all Schistosoma species, due to reports of reduced efficacy and resistance. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the antischistosomal potential of phytochemicals from Azadirachta indica against proteins that have been implicated as druggable targets for the treatment of schistosomiasis using computational techniques. In this study, sixty-three (63) previously isolated and characterized phytochemicals from A. indica were identified from the literature and retrieved from the PubChem database. In silico screening was conducted to assess the inhibitory potential of these phytochemicals against three receptors (Schistosoma mansoni Thioredoxin glutathione reductase, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, and Arginase) that may serve as therapeutic targets for schistosomiasis treatment. Molecular docking, ADMET prediction, ligand interaction, MMGBSA, and molecular dynamics simulation of the hit compounds were conducted using the Schrodinger molecular drug discovery suite. The results show that Andrographolide possesses a satisfactory pharmacokinetic profile, does not violate the Lipinski rule of five, binds with favourable affinity with the receptors, and interacts with key amino acids at the active site. Importantly, its interaction with dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, an enzyme responsible for the catalysis of the de novo pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway rate-limiting step, shows a glide score and MMGBSA of −10.19 and −45.75 Kcal/mol, respectively. In addition, the MD simulation shows its stability at the active site of the receptor. Overall, this study revealed that Andrographolide from Azadirachta indica could serve as a potential lead compound for the development of an anti-schistosomal drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthorimaea absoluta is a global constraint to tomato production and can cause up to 100% yield loss. Farmers heavily rely on synthetic pesticides to manage this pest. However, these pesticides are detrimental to human, animal, and environmental health. Therefore, exploring eco-friendly, sustainable Integrated Pest Management approaches, including biopesticides as potential alternatives, is of paramount importance. In this context, the present study (i) evaluated the efficacy of 10 Bacillus thuringiensis isolates, neem, garlic, and fenugreek; (ii) assessed the interactions between the most potent plant extracts and B. thuringiensis isolates, and (iii) evaluated the gut microbial diversity due to the treatments for the development of novel formulations against P. absoluta. Neem recorded the highest mortality of 93.79 ± 3.12% with an LT50 value of 1.21 ± 0.24 days, Bt HD263 induced 91.3 ± 3.68% mortality with LT50 of 2.63 ± 0.11 days, compared to both Bt 43 and fenugreek that caused < 50% mortality. Larval mortality was further enhanced to 99 ± 1.04% when Bt HD263 and neem were combined. Furthermore, the microbiome analyses showed that Klebsiella, Escherichia and Enterobacter had the highest abundance in all treatments with Klebsiella being the most abundant. In addition, a shift in the abundance of the bacterial genera due to the treatments was observed. Our findings showed that neem, garlic, and Bt HD263 could effectively control P. absoluta and be integrated into IPM programs after validation by field efficacy trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stable neem oil-based oil-in-water nanoemulsion (o/w NE) is obtained by using a series of combinations of low and high-energy methods using optimized emulsifier composition. The application of the ultrasonication (high-energy) along with the dilution (low-energy) methods was used to intensify the process. Azadirachtin (indigenous neem oil) is used as an oil phase along with a mixture of two nonionic surfactants, namely Span80 and Tween80. The o/w NE is synthesized at an optimized HLB value of 8.5. Process parameters of ultrasonication are optimized and resulted in a 25% amplitude ratio, a 0.5 pulse mode factor, and a 30 minutes of ultrasonication time. The effects of optimized parameters are studied on droplet size distribution and the stability of o/w NE. For the oil concentration of 2.5%, the droplet diameter changed from 159 to 160.9 nm for a period of 45 days. Rheological properties of NEs are also evaluated by studying the relationship between shear rate with shear stress and viscosity at different temperatures, ranging from 20 to 50 °C. All the synthesized o/w NEs showed Newtonian behavior. Hence, the o/w NEs exhibited excellent stability for 45 days in terms of its droplet size, appearance, and rheology. The proposed o/w NE could be a potential pesticide for safeguarding the crops, without affecting the useful microorganisms, in the agriculture fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. remains an intractable problem in the most common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production areas worldwide and can cause total yield loss. Many smallholder farmers are familiar with using botanical extracts to control insect pests; however, there is less familiarity with their use to control fungal diseases due to a lack of evidence. Here, we demonstrate that anthracnose could be controlled effectively by pesticidal plant species that are used for insect control. In laboratory trials, water extracts from 11 plant species could inhibit fungal growth (100%) and spore germination (75–100%) equally well to two commercially available fungicides, the synthetic Mancolaxyl and biofungicide Bioderma. In screenhouse trials, anthracnose disease was reduced by the extracts of three plant species. Moreover, bean crop growth in these botanical treatments did not differ significantly from that observed in the commercial fungicide treated plants. Field trials in a smallholder community reporting severe problems with anthracnose showed an effect similar to the screenhouse results. Field trials resulted in bean seed yields approximately 350 kg/ha higher in bean plants treated with Azadirachta indica and Lippia javanica at 10% w/v compared to the negative control untreated plants. In all trials, botanical extracts were as effective as commercially available fungicides, suggesting that these botanical extracts could provide dual-purpose pest and disease management for anthracnose and crop pest insects. The outcomes of this research show that prospects for using locally available resources to control anthracnose on common bean are credible and can be combined with controlling insect pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the synthesis of perovskite‐type oxide LaFeO3 nanoparticles via chemical as well as bio approaches. Azadirachta indica (neem) extract's impact on the LaFeO3 nanoparticles has been studied to identify potential substitutes for detrimental chemical synthesis. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) examinations of synthesized perovskites by both routes reveal the cubic LaFeO3 phase and identical crystallographic patterns. The optical bandgap energies (Eg) for the chemical and bio‐synthesized variants are determined to be 2.05 and 2.03 eV, respectively using UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis affirms the occurrence of two significant vibrational bands at 558 and 438 cm−1, which strengthen the formation of perovskite LaFeO3. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) investigation indicates the chemical variant has larger blockier‐shaped particles, whereas the bio‐synthesized sample has a micro‐spherical morphology with sharp edges. The X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigations substantiate the chemical state of La‐3d, Fe‐2p, and O‐1s present in both variants, which comprises the 3 : 3 perovskite type. Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM) analysis elucidates weak ferromagnetism at room temperature in both of the synthesized samples. The novelty of this work concentrates on divulging that green synthesized LaFeO3 perovskites are more environmentally benign and affordable than chemically synthesized ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles prepared from bio-reduction agents are of keen interest to researchers around the globe due to their ability to mitigate the harmful effects of chemicals. In this regard, the present study aims to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs). CuNPs show a characteristic absorption peak at 347 nm, while SEM reveals the spherical but agglomerated shape of CuNPs of the size within the range of 51.26-56.66 nm. The crystallite size measured by using XRD was found to be within a range of 23.38-46.64 nm for ginger-doped CuO and 26-56 nm for garlic-doped CuO. The X-ray diffraction analysis shows the crystalline structure of copper nanoparticles with prominent peaks. Bragg's reflection of copper nanoparticles shows diffraction peaks around 2θ =43.4°, 50.3°, and 74.39°, representing [111], [200], and [220] crystallographic planes of face-centered cubic (fcc). The synthesized CuO NPs tested antibacterial properties against various strains of microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, 25 µg/mL 2.3 ± 0.21 and 100 µg/mL 6.5 ± 0.17, Staphylococcus aureus, 25 µg/mL 2.3 ± 0.29 and 100 µg/mL 11.5 ± 1.17, Streptococcus mutans, 25 µg/mL 01.05 ± 0.21 and 100 µg/mL 15.8 ± 0.17, Enterococcus faecalis). The short novelty of Azadirachta indica lies in its potential relevance to human health, as it has been found to possess bioactive compounds with various medicinal properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, making it a promising natural resource for therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapeseed- mustard is an important source of edible oil but vulnerable to attack by various insect pests. More than three dozen insect pests are known to be related with rapeseed mustard crop in India. Among them, mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) is a major pest on rapeseed-mustard. Bio-efficacy of PAU homemade neem extract (PAU HMNE) @ 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 L ha−1 along with standard check, Actara (thiamethoxam 25 WG) @ 100 g ha−1 was tested against L. erysimi on gobhi sarson under organic farming conditions. All treatments were applied twice, first when aphid population reached at economic threshold level, ETL (50–60 aphids per 10 cm terminal portion of the central shoot of plant) and second after 7 days of first spray. Water spray and untreated control were kept for the comparison purpose. Three replications were kept for all the treatments. Aphid incidence was recorded on 10 cm terminal portion of central shoot from 10 randomly selected tagged plants per plot. On pooled mean basis, Actara 25 WG @ 100 g ha−1 was found to be most effective against mustard aphid offering highest per cent reduction over control (PROC) viz. 85.01- 94.67 and 83.75–89.66% during 2020–21 and 2021–22, respectively, but it also registered highest predators' mortality. In contrast, a locally prepared neem extract, PAU HMNE @ 10.0 L ha−1 was next to record high PROC, i.e., 37.44 to 48.28% and 43.57 to 50.06% in 2020–21 and 2021–22, respectively, and highest predators' population. A highest seed yield of mustard (14.80 and 16.85 q ha−1) was marked in Actara 25 WG @ 10.0 L followed by PAU HMNE @ 10.0 L (13.83 and 16.24 q ha−1) over the untreated control plots with lowest seed yield (11.30 and 14.60 q ha−1) in 2020–21 and 2021–22, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytophagous mites especially yellow mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) and two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch cause major problems in the cultivation of capsicum or green pepper under protected conditions resulting in significant yield losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different biorationals and natural products against yellow mite, P.latus, infesting capsicum grown in hydroponic system in polyhouse conditions during 2019. The natural products and plant extracts were prepared indigeneously. Results revealed that among all the treatments, pepper extract @ 30ml/l followed by both Brahamastra and Agniastra at the highest doses of 50ml/l caused maximum mortality of mites. Even the PAU home made neem extract and Pongamia extract both @ 12ml/l were found more effective as compared to the Dherek extract. The bioagent, anthocorid bug, Blaptostethus pallescens @ 10 nymphs per plant reduced the mite population after two releases at weekly interval. These natural products and biorationals can be incorporated in integrated mite management programmes under protected cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey was conducted to assess the incidence of brown spot disease in three tehsils of District Okara. Maximum incidence was observed in Depalpur (44%) followed by Okara (33%) and Renala khurd (15%). During study, six chemicals (CabrioTop, Fossil, Axel, Forum Top, Kocide and Topsin M) and six phytochemicals (Nigella sativa, Azadirachta indica, Zingiber officinale, Cinnamomum verum, and Eucalyptus globulus) at three different concentrations were evaluated. Results indicated that maximum inhibition of mycellial growth was expressed by Fossil (5.24 mm) followed by Topsin M (7.13 mm), Axel (7.38 mm), Kocide (11.289 mm), Forum Top (18.79 mm), CabrioTop (25.01 mm). Among phyto-extracts, Datura stramonium (7.77 mm) showed maximum reduction in fungal growth followed by Nigella sativa (13.88 mm), Azadirachta indica (19.18 mm), Zingiber officinale (24.87 mm), Cinnamomum Verum (25.59 mm), and Eucalyptus globulus (36.13 mm) as compared to control (water). The current study, offers valuable insights into the prevalence and distribution of brown spot disease in District Okara, there by facilitating the development of focused management strategies to alleviate its impact on potato cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attention of agricultural product waste residues is gathering significance in automotive, structural, and marine applications. Agricultural bio-waste residues are extracted from various crops and utilized as reinforcement cheaply. The epoxy hybrid composite is prepared with different blending ratios of bio-degradable banana (BF) and neem (NF) fiber. Influences of chemical treatment on tensile strength and moisture absorption performance of composite are studied by ASTM standard, and results proved the fiber loading in the epoxy matrix found increased tensile strength and moisture absorption capability. Amid the combinations, the silane-treated BF/NF (3:1) composite has 1.3±0.11 g/cc density, high tensile strength of 72.45±1.1 MPa and increased moisture absorption resistance of 43.78 %. The observed silane-treated composite (BF/NF 3:1) tensile strength performance studied under the dry state is 56.19±1.1 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green synthesis method was utilised in synthesising copper oxide nanoparticles from Azadirachta indica using copper sulphate as the precursor at different molarities. The nanoparticles were investigated using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and potentiometry to understand their respective structural, morphological, elemental, optical, and electrochemical properties. Crystalline diffraction peaks with nanospheres distributed through the surface. The elemental compositions of the as-deposited elements were confirmed from the EDX spectra. High optical absorbance and energy band gap values ranging from 1.75 eV to 2.72 eV at increasing molarities were obtained. Good cyclic voltammograms measured at a scan rate of 20 mV/s yielded a maximum specific capacitance of 148 F/g. The synthesised nanoparticles would find useful applications in supercapacitors and electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, plant extracts are extensively used as eco-friendly strategies for biological control of parasitic pests, including the root-knot nematodes, instead of using chemical pesticides. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine leaf extract of neem plants (Azaddirachta indica) against the root-knot nematode; Meloidogyne spp. The obtained results showed that there was a gradual decrease in egg hatching with increasing the neem leaf extract concentrations and the duration of exposure. The neem extract is highly effective against egg hatching being the IC50 scored 397.1 ppm. Consequently, neem extract caused 75, 79, and 81% inhibition of egg hatching on root-knot nematode at the concentrations of 2000, 4000, and 6000 ppm, respectively at 72h. In contrast, the egg hatching (%) was progressively increased with increasing the exposure time from 24 to 72h. Under the application of plant extract concentrations for different periods, the lowest effective plant extract concentration was 2000 ppm, which gave the least inhibition, followed by 4000 ppm. The highest effective extract concentration was 6000 ppm, conferring the lowest egg hatching. It has been concluded from the results of the present study that the leaf extract of A. indica has the ability to inhibit the egg hatchability of root-knot nematode. Thus, this finding is important in the identification and development of alternative strategies in controlling the root-knot nematodes. There is, however, further work is needed to identify some of these main compounds after purification. This study confirms the presence of nematicidal compounds in petroleum ether fractions of Azadirachta indica, which were responsible for the prevention of egg hatching of root-knot nematodes at some concentrations, especially 6000 ppm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticks are blood-sucking parasites and occur all over the world, especially in humid and subhumid nations such as India. They are very important vectors of many economically important livestock diseases, such as Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp. Ticks were collected from organized and unorganized cattle farms situated in and around Mhow. The initially collected samples of ticks (≤200) were washed in tap water and identified as Rhipicephalus microplus. The study was carried out from June 2021 to May 2022. Ticks were treated with 0.625, 1.25, 2.50, 5, and 10% oil of Azadirachta indica in both the adult immersion test and larval immersion test. All the concentrations were prepared with absolute ethanol. In the present study, fipronil was used as a positive control using various concentrations (x/8, x/4, x/2, x, and 2x) and was prepared in distilled water. The LC50 values against fipronil were observed as 1.03 and 1.12 ppm for adults and larvae, respectively. Results of the study showed that the oil of Azadirachta indica was responsible for the mortality of adults (LC50 = 2.70%) and larval stages (LC50 = 1.27%) at all the concentrations used. Furthermore, it was observed that this oil was also responsible for the inhibition of oviposition and had excellent repellent activity at 10% concentration. Based on the study, we can conclude that the oil of A. indica can be used in an integrated tick management system to reduce the tick burden on animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chemo-drug such as cisplatin is effective for cancer treatment but remains non-specific, is susceptible to drug resistance, and induces several side effects on organ systems. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8, a type of MOF, has gained attention, including as a drug delivery method for targeted cancer therapeutics. In this study, ZIF-8/Silica nanocomposite was synthesized using a one-pot hydrothermal technique using the Stober technique. We studied the effect of phyto-synthesized GPt and chemo-drug cisplatin CPt on ZIF-8/Silica for targeted efficacy of cancer therapy. The texture, morphology, and chemical environment of Pt on ZIF-8/Silica were analyzed using different characterization techniques such as XRD, FT-IR, BET, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, SEM-EDX, TEM, zeta potential, and TGA analysis. The isothermal behavior of CPt and GPt adsorption was investigated using isotherm models like Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm. The adsorption kinetics indicating the adsorption efficiency of GPt and CPt are influenced by the concentration of Pt complex and the adsorption sites of ZIF-8/Silica. A high entrapment efficiency and loading capacity of GPt (86% and 4.3%) and CPt (91% and 4.5%) were evident on ZIF-8/Silica. The nanocomposite showed a pH-sensitive Pt release using a dialysis membrane technique. For instance, a high release of GPt (93%) was observed under pH = 6.6 in 72 h, while the release reduced to 50% at pH 7.4 in 72 h. The anti-cancer activity of nanoformulations was studied in vitro using MCF7 (breast cancer cells) and HFF-1 (human foreskin fibroblast) cells. The findings demonstrated that GPt is as effective as CPt; the EC50 value for MCF7 cells treated with ZIF-8/Silica/Cp/PEG was 94.86 µg/mL, whereas for ZIF-8/Silica/GPt/PEG it was 60.19 µg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promecops leucothyrea Fahraeus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is reported for the first time in Chiapas. Adults feed on soybean plants from VC stage (unrolled unifoliolate leaves) to R2 (full flowering). Although P. leucothyrea is currently found only in a few soybean fields in Chiapas, to our knowledge, it could spread to other parts of Mexico. Other plants that were found as hosts for P. leucothyrea were: Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) W. Clayton, Sorghum halepense (L.) Persoon (Poaceae), Ipomoea trifida (Kunth) G. Don (Convolvulaceae), Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae), Hamelia rovirosae Wernham. (Rubiaceae), Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke (Malvaceae). Se reporta por primera vez a Promecops leucothyrea Fahraeus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), en Chiapas. Los adultos se alimentan en plantas de soya en la etapa VC (hojas unifoliadas desenrolladas) hasta R2 (plena floración). Aunque P. leucothyrea, se encuentra en este momento solo en ciertas localidades con cultivos de soya en Chiapas, a nuestro conocimiento, probablemente pueda esparcirse a otras partes de México. Otras plantas hospederas de P. leucothyrea que se encontraron en Chiapas son Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) W. Clayton, Sorghum halepense (L.) Persoon (Poaceae), Ipomoea trifida (Kunth) G. Don (Convolvulaceae), Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae), Hamelia rovirosae Wernham. (Rubiaceae), Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke (Malvaceae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology has helped for decades to transform the agricultural system to make it more effective and to ensure the worlds food supply is sustainable and secure. However, potential toxicological affects, interactions with the biotic or abiotic environment, high cost, unknown life cycles of nanomaterials, and their possible increased bioaccumulation effects are some of the barriers which needs to be addressed. This study evaluates development and potential agricultural application of niosomes nanoparticles loaded with Azadirachta indica seed oil. Niosomes are organic nanomaterials composed of non-ionic surfactants, which are inexpensive, have good encapsulation efficiency, more stability, relatively nontoxic, and biodegradable. Azadirachta indica seed oil loaded niosomes were prepared by thin-film hydration method utilizing different molar ratios of surfactant (Tween 80) and stabilizer (Soy lecithin). The characteristics of niosomes were determined by Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering, Optical Microscope, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Further, the prepared niosomes were statistically optimized using the Box-Behnken experimental design. The optimized condition displayed optimum particle size (<100 nm) and acceptable percentage entrapment efficiencies (> 80%). Anti-microbial efficacy of loaded niosomes were evaluated against plant pathogens Xanthomonas and Pantoea. The prepared niosomes displayed considerable antimicrobial properties and can be potentially used in agriculture for the targeted delivery of natural pesticides (Azadirachta indica seed oil) to combat agricultural diseases. [Display omitted] • Niosomes prepared from Tween 80 and lecithin can encapsulate neem oil. • Niosomes can be potentially used for the targeted delivery of natural pesticides. • Encapsulation of neem oil (NO) in niosomes could effectively delay the release of NO. • NO loaded niosomes showed antimicrobial efficacy against Xanthomonas and Pantoea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azadirachta indica has a very long history of medicinal advantages from ancient times. It is used to treat several diseases and is easily available throughout the year. The present study aims to identify the phytocompounds which has anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, and hypolipidemic properties of Azadirachta indica leaves using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The spectrum analysis confirms the presence of azadirachtolide in Azadirachta indica leaves which shows anti-diabetic and hypolipidemic properties. It also confirms the presence of a limonoid (nimbolide) and flavonoids (quercetin, β-sitosterol) present in Azadirachta indica leaves. Further, the experimental investigation shows that the peak 2316 cm−1 is absent in the sun-dried leaves spectra which is identified as a nitrile peak and present in the control sample. The identified peak relates to cyanogenic glycosides, a nitrile-containing plant secondary metabolite, present in Azadirachta indica leaves. The hydrolysis process of cyanogenic glycosides has adverse effects on health. Hence, the proposed method also suggests the correct way to consume Azadirachta indica leaves for medicinal benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinnow mandarin fruit possesses high nutraceutical value, but it exhibits heavy loss in antioxidant quality during long-term storage. The effect of sodium alginate coating and combination of Sodium Alginate (SA) and Neem Leaf Extract (NLE) coatings was evaluated on cold stored Kinnow fruits. The results revealed that fruits applied with composite coating exhibited slower decline in the levels of phenols (7.89%), flavonoids (16.8%) and carotenoid content (6.64%) during the storage as compared to the control. Coated fruits also retained better antioxidant activity as compared to the control during storage period. In addition, SA +NLE coating reduced the spoilage, loss in weight, loss of juice content, acidity and vitamin C in the Kinnow fruits. Similarly, at the end of 75 days storage period, maximum TA, TSS, juice content, Ascorbic acid, carotenoid content, TPC, TFC and anti-oxidant activity was maintained in 2% SA + 20% NLE coating, hence being the most effective coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly effective green technique for the synthesis of bis(indolyl) methanes mediated by 'Aqueous Extract of Dillenia indica' (AEDI) is developed. The reaction involves a simple procedure at a moderate temperature of below 60 °C in air within a short reaction time of 30–60 minutes under conditions free from external promoters, acids, ligands/organic media using our natural water–extracted catalyst, affording moderate to high yield. This protocol offers a mild, effective, and highly economical alternative to the existing protocols and promotes a more environmentally friendly alternative for the protic and Lewis acids catalysts that are already in use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate assessment of nitrate leaching is important for efficient fertiliser utilisation and groundwater pollution reduction. However, past studies could not efficiently model nitrate leaching due to utilisation of conventional algorithms. To address the issue, the current research employed advanced machine learning algorithms, viz., Support Vector Machine, Artificial Neural Network, Random Forest, M5 Tree (M5P), Reduced Error Pruning Tree (REPTree) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to predict and optimize nitrate leaching. In this study, Urea Super Granules (USG) with three different coatings were used for the experiment in the soil columns, containing 1 kg soil with fertiliser placed in between. Statistical parameters, namely correlation coefficient, Mean Absolute Error, Willmott index, Root Mean Square Error and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency were used to evaluate the performance of the ML techniques. In addition, a comparison was made in the test set among the machine learning models in which, RSM outperformed the rest of the models irrespective of coating type. Neem oil/ Acacia oil(ml): clay/sulfer (g): age (days) for minimum nitrate leaching was found to be 2.61: 1.67: 2.4 for coating of USG with bentonite clay and neem oil without heating, 2.18: 2: 1 for bentonite clay and neem oil with heating and 1.69: 1.64: 2.18 for coating USG with sulfer and acacia oil. The research would provide guidelines to researchers and policymakers to select the appropriate tool for precise prediction of nitrate leaching, which would optimise the yield and the benefit–cost ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm leaf manuscripts (PLMs) are traditional carriers that contain a wealth of knowledge from different disciplines written by ancient scholars. However, PLMs are susceptible to deterioration due to moisture, light, fungi and bacteria. An existing method of applying essential oils (EOs) to preserve PLMs does not currently appear successful, hence the study presented here which aimed to maximise the preservation characteristics of six different EO blends, prepared and applied to palm leaves, which were then tested for stiffness, brightness and weight gain. The interpretation of the efficiency of EO blends in the preservation of PLMs is attributed to the compatibility between the oils due to the various constituents present in the individual EOs. FTIR spectroscopy was used to understand the compatibility of the oils in a blend and any EO blend rendering a higher stiffness and brightness was identified as having a high preservation performance. Based on the investigation, good compatibility is observed between the FTIR spectrum of Blend-E with its contributing EOs of citronella, neem and mustard. On the other hand, Blend-B exhibits poor preservation characteristics and incompatibility. The study concludes with the recommendation that Blend-E is suitable for the treatment and regular maintenance of PLMs as it can help reduce physical and chemical damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies were conducted to understand the preference of fruits by fruit-piercing moth (Eudocima sp.) and the efficacy of repellents/deterrents for the management of insect-pest-related fruit drop in citrus. The activity of Eudocima sp. was observed between August and December, with the most damage occurring in September (13.35%) and October (21.5%) during the color-breaking stage of Nagpur mandarin. Foliar application of petroleum spray oil at a rate of 2% or neem oil at a rate of 1% every two weeks during the color-breaking stage until harvest significantly reduced fruit drop (48.0%-70.0%) caused by the fruit-piercing moths. Simultaneously, hanging two polypropylene sachets with phorate or acephate, 10 g per tree, during the ambia (spring) season also significantly reduced fruit drop (<7%) due to the moths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs) were successfully synthesized from eggshell waste by microwave-assisted (MW) as well as conventional heating precipitation methods and a green template i.e., Azadirachta indica (AI) (neem) leaf extract. The synthesized HANPs were characterized by different analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for determining their functionality, shape, size, crystallinity, phase purity, and thermal stability. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the pure hydroxyapatite phase with no other impurities. SEM and TEM analyses confirmed that HANPs displayed uniform distribution with less agglomeration by the MW method in the presence of AI when compared to the conventional heating method and without AI. TEM analyses revealed that the average size of HANPs from both methods without AI was 30–31 nm in width and 53–55 nm in length while in the presence of AI, it was 27–28 nm in width and 44–46 nm in length. XRD analysis indicated the formation of the pure crystalline structure of nanoparticles. The synthesized HANPs were thermally very stable and had a lower Ca/P ratio (1.81) from the MW method compared to the conventional heating method, which is 1.95. Thus, this study revealed that HANPs synthesized by the MW method in the presence of AI with a smaller crystallite size and less agglomerated particles have great potential to be used in the biomedical fields as well as different fields such as cosmetics, wastewater treatment, and food packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytes are microorganisms that inhabit various plant parts and cause no damage to the host plants. During the last few years, a number of novel endophytic fungi have been isolated and identified from medicinal plants and were found to be utilized as bio-stimulants and bio fertilizers. In lieu of this, the present study aims to isolate and identify endophytic fungi associated with the leaves of Anisomeles indica L. an important medicinal plant of the Terai-Duars region of West Bengal. A total of ten endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves of A. indica and five were identified using ITS1/ITS4 sequencing based on their ability for plant growth promotion, secondary metabolite production, and extracellular enzyme production. Endophytic fungal isolates were identified as Colletotrichum yulongense Ai1, Colletotrichum cobbittiense Ai2, Colletotrichum alienum Ai2.1, Colletotrichum cobbittiense Ai3, and Fusarium equiseti. Five isolates tested positive for their plant growth promotion potential, while isolates Ai4. Ai1, Ai2, and Ai2.1 showed significant production of secondary metabolites viz. alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, etc. Isolate Ai2 showed maximum total phenolic concentration (25.98 mg g−1), while isolate Ai4 showed maximum total flavonoid concentration (20.10 mg g−1). Significant results were observed for the production of extracellular enzymes such as cellulases, amylases, laccases, lipases, etc. The isolates significantly influenced the seed germination percentage of tomato seedlings and augmented their growth and development under in vitro assay. The present work comprehensively tested these isolates and ascertained their huge application for the commercial utilization of these isolates both in the agricultural and industrial sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of bioactive substance in plant extracts with nematicidal activity on Meloidogyne spp can reduce crop damage in nematode control and to minimized the use of chemical nematicide which may be toxic to man and the environment. An in vitro experiment was conducted to investigate the bioactive effects of aqueous and methanolic seed extract of neem on root-knot nematodes. The nematodes were isolated by modified funnel Baerman method and identified by comparative morphology, descriptions and lattice keys. Ten mils of homogenized nematodes suspension (50 juveniles) replicated 5 times and kept at room temperature were exposed to varied concentrations (50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 mg/ml) of the seed extracts of test plants for different time periods; 6, 12, and 24 hours. Distilled water served as a control. Data on dead nematodes was recorded for each period of exposure. The data was analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Phytochemical screening of crude seed extracts was carried out using standard methods. The results showed that aqueous seed extract of A. indica caused 100 % nematode juvenile mortality at the highest’s concentration (300mg/ml) within 24 hours of exposure while the methanolic seed extract of A. indica caused 100% mortality within 8 hours of exposure. The results revealed that the higher the concentration of both aqueous and methanolic (50 mg/ml-300 mg/ml) seed extract of A. indica, the higher the mortality of rootknot juveniles. Mortality due to the extracts were significantly higher than those of the control at P < 0.05. The plant bioactive chemical screening of the test seed extract revealed the presence of anthraquinones, alkaloids, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and terpenes. Both methanolic and aqueous seed extract of Azadirachta indica had nematicidal properties with potential for a biological nematicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of avian coccidiosis in the poultry industry has grown, resulting in substantial financial losses from high mortality, stunted growth, reduced productivity, and expensive medical expenses. Aim: The purpose of the current study was to assess the immunological effects of neem leaf extract and toltrazuril on broilers that had contracted coccidiosis. Methods: In this investigation, 100 one-day-old Cobb broiler chicks without sexes were employed. The chicks were divided into five equal groups, with 20 birds in each. On the 14th day of life, the birds in groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 received an oral inoculation with 1 × 105 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) (field isolate). The first group (Gp), which consists of 20 healthy broilers, served as a negative control. Gp (2) contains experimentally infected broilers and nontreated (served as a positive control). Gp (3) contains experimentally infected broilers treated with toltrazuril (1 ml/l drinking water) for two consecutive days. Gp (4) contains experimentally infected broilers treated with neem leaf extract 4% (50 ml/l drinking water) for 5 successive days, and Gp (5) contains experimentally infected broilers treated with toltrazuril (1 ml/l drinking water) and a half dose of neem leaves extract 4% (25 ml/l drinking water) for 5 successive days. For the purpose of estimating body weight growth and feed conversion ratio, each broiler was weighed separately at the start of the trial and again on the 1st and 10th day after treatment. In addition to obtaining intestinal samples for immunohistochemistry, blood samples were also obtained for immunological examination. Results: As compared to the negative control group, the experimentally infested broilers with E. tenella showed significant decreases in serum nitric oxide, lysosome, phagocytic percent, and phagocytic index, along with significant increases in white blood cells (WBCs), lymphocyte, heterophilis, eosinophilis, basophilis, monocyte, serum total protein, γ globulin, fibrinogen, and haptoglobin. When compared to the control positive group, experimentally infested broilers treated with either neem or toltrazuril alone or in combination demonstrated significant increases in serum total protein, nitric oxide, lysozyme, phagocytic percent, and phagocytic index, but significant decreases in WBCs, lymphocytes, heterophile, eosinophile, basophile, and monocyte. The intestinal peroxidase stain of broilers infected with E. tenella exhibited a significant positive expression for CD4, but the infected broilers treated with toltrazuril and half a dosage of neem displayed a negative expression for CD4, identical to the negative control. Conclusion: The broiler chickens infested with E. tenella may have a variety of negative impacts on their immune systems and immunohistopathological findings. Nonetheless, toltrazuril and neem extract, either separately or in combination, function as anticoccidial medications that may enhance the broiler chicks’ immune state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In glass house, we studied the effects of different management practices [carbofuran @ 1 and 2 kg a.i./ha-1, Trichoderma harzianum @1 and 2 % w/w and neem (Azadirachta indica L.) oil @ 1 and 2 % w/v (1500 ppm)] as seed treatment on root-knot nematode (RKN) and their impact on plant growth of mungbean. The neem oil (i). stimulated the nodule formation and functioning, (ii). improved the uptake of major nutrients [N (1.65 %), P (0.39 %), K (2.58 %), Ca (4.28 %) and Mg (0.58 %)] and (iii). increased shoot length (32.59 %), root length (12.89 %), fresh and dry weight of shoot (57.07 % and 75.41 % resp.) than untreated inoculated control plants. However, it decreased the root fresh (11.83 %) and dry weight (31.26 %) over control. While carbofuran treatment, showed decreased plant growth than control. The nematode incidence [root galls/plant, egg masses/plant and nematode population] was least with carbofuran followed by neem oil and T. harzianum. Neem oil significantly enhanced plant yield (number and weight of pods per plant) by 70% and 108%, respectively, compared to other treatments including carbofuran, T. harzianum, and control. The neem oil and T. harzianum not only provided good biocontrol of root-knot nematode but also enhanced to vegetative growth and nodulation in mungbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel as the renewable source of energy has become one of the alternative solutions towards the problems associated with the use of fossil fuels in energy generation. Most of the biodiesel produced via tansesterification process are associated with viscosity that is above diesel limit. This problem can be mitigated through the use of solid materials as additive. This paper investigates the influence of fly ash as additive on the viscosity of transesterified neem oil. The morphology and chemical constituent of fly ash were studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Xray Fluoroscopy (XRF). The crude neem oil was purified; transesterified and 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.3wt%, 0.4wt% and 0.5wt% of fly ash were used as additive. The viscosity of crude, purified, transesterified and transesterified with 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.3wt%, 0.5wt% and 0.5wt% of fly ash as additive were measured using brookfield digital viscometer. SEM shows that the mophorlogy of fly ash was dispersed particle with cloudy structure while XRF shows that the major compound presence on fly ash was silicon oxide. The viscosity of the samples decreases as the temperature increases and with the addition of fly ash. But on the addition of 0.3wt% it shows significant variation at equal range of temperature. This indicated that the fly ash can be used as biodiesel additive on neem oil as it decreases the level of viscosity presence on the oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the plants used medicinally in rural and semi-urban areas of Ondo State, Nigeria with a view to generating a comprehensive list of therapeutic plants and evaluating their importance quantitatively. Surveys were conducted in some communities in Ondo State between November 2021 and November 2022 with focus on different uses of plants. Structured questionnaires were administered to plant collectors and users. Data were analyzed based on some ethnobotanical indices. In total, 179 medicinal plants belonging to 66 plant families were recorded. The family Fabaceae had the highest (16.20%) representative species while shrubs formed the most used plant form (32%). The highest Frequency of Citation (FC, 49) was obtained for Azadirachta indica. The most valuable plant was A. indica (0.17) based on the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and highest (1.67) Use Value (UV). The Consensus Index and Fidelity Level (FL) were also found to be highest with A. indica (50% and 83.33% respectively) while Fabaceae had the highest Family Importance Value (FIV, 10.98%). The ethnomedicinal use of A. indica, V. amygdalina etc. in the treatment of malaria/fever has been further confirmed in this study. The family Fabaceae has been shown to contain plant species that are important to the informants. The use of quantitative techniques in ethnomedicinal studies allows the identification of commonly used plants and their recommendation for pharmacological research to confirm traditional claims. There is need to properly educate plant users in the communities on the sustainable use of plant resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sustained agriculture has close intimacy with trees. However, the conventional agriculture had broken this intimacy especially by keeping trees away from the farm land for short term economic considerations. Tree may influence the associated crop either positively or negatively depending on its age, species, density, environment and management practices. Hence, understanding nature and extent of competitive effect is utmost important in adopting management practices to improve overall productivity. Methods: An investigation was carried out to assess yield variation if any in pigeonpea and the primary ecological factors responsible for the same when it was grown in association with neem (25 years old) on field bunds in a traditional agroforestry system during 2018-19 in semi-arid tropics of Karnataka, India at three distances mainly 2-7.4, 7.4-12.8 and 12.8-18.2 m on E and W of N-S and N and S of E-W tree lines. Result: Averaged over directions significantly lower pigeonpea yield (3.76 q ha-1) was recorded near the tree line at 2-7.4 m distance, while it increased with increase in the distance from tree line and was the highest (7.61 q ha-1) at far away distance (12.8-18.2 m) at which yield was on par with control (without any trees), though soil near the tree line (2-7.4 m) recorded significantly higher soil organic carbon and microbial population (fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes) indicating better soil health and moisture. This leads to the conclusion that it is not merely the rhizosphere characteristics or neem root interference but the above ground factors particularly light availability to pigeonpea as influenced by neem canopy is important in the agroforesty system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of equipment to mechanise the handling and processing of neem seeds requires an understanding of their physical characteristics. Thus, the physical properties of neem seeds were assessed at moisture content levels ranging from 7.78% to 20.20% on a dry basis. Standard procedures were used to evaluate the seeds' axial dimensions, weight, sphericity, aspect ratio, true and bulk densities, porosity, surface area, and coefficients of dynamic friction (µ) on surfaces made of galvanised steel, wood, and glass. Except for the true and bulk densities, all of the evaluated properties showed an increase in the results for the moisture range mentioned above. The µ on galvanized steel, wood and glass surfaces ranged from 129.00 - 145.90, 127.80 - 141.00, and 130.00 - 144.00, respectively. All the measured parameters had empirical models established for them. The high correlation coefficients of each parameter's model suggest that it can be simulated within the moisture domain under investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]